Honk if You Like Big Theory

I'm from Los Angeles, so I spend an exorbitant amount of time sitting in traffic…

I used to find myself bored, even when listening to music or podcasts. But now, I welcome the boredom because it gives me time to think.

It made me remember this quote from Glennon Doyle's “Untamed:”

"When we hand our children phones we steal their boredom from them. As a result we are raising a generation of writers who will never write, artists who will never doodle, chefs who will never make a mess of the kitchen."

Now, obviously, we're not children and you can't do most of these activities while driving, but still…

The spare time also got me thinking about a couple of 'car-related' theories about opportunity and gratitude that you can put to the test today.

1. THE RED CAR THEORY

The theory says that opportunities, like red cars, are everywhere…

We just have to look out for them.

If we tell ourselves to look out for red cars, we'll see more than we can count. Whereas if we don't, we'll see none.

We usually live our lives in a sort of daze, not really noticing what's around us. Stuck in our routines, or in a rut…

Imagine the red cars are opportunities or inspiration for our next creative project. How many things do we overlook or pass-up simply because we aren't looking?

The next time you are out and about, keep an eye out for red cars and see how this theory holds up. Then, translate it to whatever you are pursuing.

Rather than driving blind.

2. THE BIRTHDAY CAKE THEORY

This one's about giving people the benefit of the doubt.

We all experience road rage one ride or another. Sometimes we’re even the ones to blame. When we're stuck behind a slow or obnoxious driver, our tendency is to get super angry… and honk loudly.

What if instead… the next time you’re stuck behind a slow moving vehicle, imagine this: a mother or father with their child's birthday cake in the front seat (kid in the backseat) as they hold the cake carefully with one hand and the other on the steering wheel, just trying to make it all home safely.

Now, chances are: it’s an asshole on their phone… but whoever it is, just give them one second. What are the incredible odds in the entire universe that you were put on the same stretch of road at the same exact time?

Maybe it isn’t someone who is maliciously trying to make you late for something, but a birthday cake, a sick cat, an elderly couple…

Whatever it is, don't make the driver in front of you start texting: There’s some asshole tailgating me.

Use the time to think instead. Life in the slow lane isn’t so bad.

-EKS